The rise in cotton prices has been 'terrifying' and could force U.S. retailers like Gap (GPS),...

The rise in cotton prices has been 'terrifying' and could force U.S. retailers like Gap (GPS), J.C. Penney (JCP) and Wal-Mart (WMT) to pay their Chinese suppliers as much as 30% more for clothes. The price hikes, unsurprisingly, will probably be passed along to consumers.